Social welfare claimants whose applications for benefits have been turned down are facing “unacceptable delays” of several months in having the decision appealed, the Department of Social Protection has admitted.

A senior official at the Department of Social Protection has said that the rollout of the new public services ID card will be among its top priorities this year.

NEARLY 40 drug rehabilitation projects are having their funding axed, and 11 face closure, a Dáil committee was told yesterday.